Chatsworth and Matlock

Sunny morning on pitch at Chatsworth CC site

Another bright but chilly morning after yesterday evenings rain and its time to go home.

We visited the Chatsworth farm shop again (so that's Christmas goodies nearly sorted) and wandered round the garden centre that we passed on the edge of the estate. Picked up a few reduced pansies, herbs and daffodil bulbs and had a coffee and mince pie (2 already and not even December!) in the garden centre cafe.

It was a pleasant drive back down the A6 with the sunshine on the autumn foliage. We stopped at Matlock Bath to have a look at the historic Richard Arkwright mill, now a museaum and shopping complex. A bit more of Christmas sorted before arriving home around 5:00 pm.

Chatsworth Christmas Fair

some of the stalls at Xmas market

No snow, but it rained heavily for most of the night and then cleared to a brilliant sunny day just in time for us to go to the Christmas market. There was a good selection of interesting stalls with many of the foodie ones offering samples and lots of visitors bussed in to take advantage.

The house main was decorated in a Chronicles of Narnia theme with the main features reserved for the  Witch and Lion. It was very well done but too crowded for comfortable viewing. The hog roast in the stable yard was half price by the time we left so we grabbed two to eat in the van. We stayed overnight on the Chatsworth CC site, arriving just before the rain set-in for the night again. Found our pitch was occupied by 3 pheasants but they did not stay for dinner ;-). 

Castleton

the main street at dusk

This was just a short winter break in the Peak district to visit the annual Christmas market and decorations at Chatsworth House.

First night was at nearby Castleton caravan club site. We stopped en route at Chatsworth farm shop for the ingredients for a mixed grill, then walked in to the village just after sunset to see the Christmas lights on the main street.

There was not a lot to see without going to the caverns but the main street was quite pretty. We had a mulled wine, Caribbean coffee and mince pie before walking back for dinner. By now the ground was glistening with frost and snow was forecast overnight.